Improvement in steam and air-engines



, l shget 3.\ Iwo/@Emile Patented Oct.` 10, 1871.

No, i19,685.

l i M lUNITEE STATEs PATENT OEEIcE.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM AND AIR-ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 119,685, dated October 10, 1871.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, J oEN F. ALExANDEE, of Shelby, in the county of Cleveland and Sta-te of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam and Air-Engines, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to that class of engines having oscillating or vibrating pistons. The lirst part of my invention relates to the adaptation of the devices to use as a single-acting engine; to which end the improvement consists in combinin g a piston oscillating in a steam-chamber,a valve on the chamber, a pin on the rock-shaft of the piston to work the valve, a crank also mounted on this rock-shaft, and a link-rod connecting this vibrating crank with the revolving crank of a iiywlieel, from which power may be conveyed in any suitable manner. The next part of my invention relates to the adaptation ofthe devices to a double-acting engine; and myiinprovement consists in the combination of two steam-chambers, two pistons, each oscillating in its respective chest on independent but concentric rock-shafts, a valve to each piston, vibratin g cranks on the pistonshafts, and link-rods connecting the vibrating cranks with their respective rotating cranks on a iiy-wheel or main shaft, so as to cause the oscillating movement of the cranks to impart a continuous rotation to the fly-wheel or main shaft and avoiding dead-centers. 4The object of the next part of my invention is to compensate the Wear of the segment over which the piston travels; and the improvement consists in constructing the bed-plate of the curved portion of the steamchamber of a polygonal form and fitting into said portion a lining piece, over which the piston travels. This piece is thus firmly held against the friction of the piston, and yet can readily be removed or replaced to adj ust and compensate any wearing of its surface. The next part of my invention relates to the escape of the exhaust, and consists in conducting the exhaust steam around the valve-chest, as hereinafter shown, so as to diminish condensation, and also to give an exhaust-port of greater area in a single-acting engine than otherwise could be secured, and in a double-acting engine to secure a single escapepipe of ample area. The next part of my invention relates to the reversing-gear; and the improvement consists in so combining reversingslides with the slide-valves of the engine that the latter may be reversed by the direct action of the steam upon the valves themselves. The next part of my invention relates to the mechanism for reversing the engine and preventing the pressure of steam upon the top ofthe valves; and the improvement consists in combining tWo valves moving in. alternately opposite directions, with a reversing-lever pivoted between and connecting the valves to reverse the engine.

In the accompanyingdrawin g, which shows all my improvements as embodied in a double-acting engine, Figure l is a plan With the steamchest removed, Fig. 2, a side elevation partly in section 5 Fig. 3, a vertical transverse section in the. line of the rocking-shafts; Fig. 4, a vertical section through the steam-chest, showing the reversing mechanism 5 Fig. 5, a plan of the Valveseat.

In order to carry out the objects of my invention I secure a steamcha1nber,B B', upon a suitable frame or bed-plate, A. The curved portion of each steam-chest is made polygonal and lined with a plate, C, also made polygonal on its outer side, while its inner side is curved in the arc of a circle struck from the center of the rock-shaft D of the piston. This plate is thus iirmly held against working-strains; but can readily be removed or replaced by taking off the cover of the steam-chamber. The plate can thus be lined up to compensate any wear of the piston. The piston D is made in the form of a plate, with one edge formed into a rock-shaft or journal, D1, turning in suitable bearings in the steam-chamber. The piston is packed around its edges with a packing, d, of any suitable construction. Apin, d', on the rock-shaft, moves the slide-valve E, which slides over a seat provided with suit-able induction-ports e c of the usual form, and an exhaust-port of a peculiar construction, hereinafter described. The steam-chest F is provided with the usual steam-pipe and exhaust-passage. The exhaust-port Gis provided with side passages g, which pass imder the face of the valve-seat and up around the steam-chest, uniting in a common escape-pipe, g. Bythis mode of construction the steam-chest is heated by the exhaust steam and the condensation of steam in the chest diminished. The rock-shaft D1 carries a crank, D2, connected by apitman, H, with the rotating crank i of a ily-wheel, I, or band-wheel from which machinery may be driven.

The devices above described constitute a single-acting engine. To adapt them to a double engine two steam-chambers are arranged side by side, with their piston-shafts arranged concentrically, but working independently of each other and in alternately opposite directions, the pistons being set at an angle ot' forty-iive degrees to each other. Each chamber is provided with proper valves, as shown in the drawing, and with a crank and pitman connected with the fly-wheel. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 one form ofreversing-gear is shown, a lever, K, being pivoted to rock on a pivot, k, between the two slide-valves. rlhis lever is moved by a handle controlled by the engine-man. In Fig. 4 I have shown an improved apparatus for reversing the engine. The slidevalve E works steam-tight between a valve-seat and a perforated partition or diaphragm, L, dividing this chamber from the steam-chest. Sliding plates L', controlled by a reversing-lever, I, are provided with ports Z1 for the passage of the steam. These ports correspond with similar ones Z2 in the partition above referred to. These ports serve for the ordinary workin g of the engine. To reverse the engine l form additional ports Z3 in the partition, and cover them with the slide-plate, which, however, is short enough to move far enough to allow either port to be opened or closed at pleasure. To reverse ,the engine the plate Ll is moved far enough to open one of the ports Z3, and immediately moved back to its normal position again, as shown in Fig. 4, as soon as the engine reverses. As soon as the port Z3 is opened the steam forces the slide-valve E to the end of the chamber opposite the port and reverses the engine, which continues to be moved in this reversed direction by steam passing through the ports l1 and l2.

The operation of a steam-engine is too well known to require description here.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of the steam-chamber, the

valve, the oscillating piston, the pin on the rockshai't ofthe piston to move the valve, the vibrating crank on the rock-shaft, the link-rod connecting the vibrating and the revolving crank, and the iiy-Wheel, all these members being constructed. to operate in combination, substantiallyT as hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination of the parallel steam-chambers, the pistons oscillatingindependently of each other, each in its respective chamber, the valves, a vibrating crank on each piston-shaft, and a linkrod connecting each vibrating crank with the corresponding crank of the ily-wheel, all these members being constructed to operate in combination substantially as set forth.

3. The interposed lining-plate of the steamchamber, constructed as described, curved on one side to correspond with the traverse of the piston and on the other with the shape ofthe steamchamber, to secure it firmly while working and" yet allow it readily to be removed.

4. The combination of the steam-chamber, the steam-valve, and the exhaust-passage lcadin around the valve and connecting with a single exhaust-passage, substantially as hereinbet'orc set forth.

5. The combination of the valve seat, the valves moving parallel to each other iu alternately-opposite directions, the oscillating reversinglever pivoted between and connecting the two valves, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

6. rlhe combination of the reversing slide, the perforated diaphragm, and the slide-valve, operated by the direct action ci' the steam to reverse the engine, substantially as hereinberore described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN F. ALEXANDER.

Witnesses:

W". I). LOVE, WM. H. ROWE. 

